South Africa will see fuel price increases for petrol and diesel starting Wednesday, May 6, 2026 [5].
These adjustments impact the cost of transport and logistics nationwide, potentially increasing monthly transport costs by R2.5 billion [6]. The shift comes as diesel prices surge past R32 per litre [7].
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources said the petrol price will increase by R3.27 per litre [1]. Diesel prices will rise by R6.19 per litre [2].
To mitigate these increases, the government has reduced fuel levies. The petrol levy will be reduced by R3.00 per litre [3], and the diesel levy will be reduced by R3.93 per litre [4].
The Department said the adjustment is a short-term relief measure to cushion consumers after the recent levy reductions. However, other observers have described the situation as a tax war on the citizens of the country.
Motorists will see the changes at pumps across South Africa starting this Wednesday. The diesel increase is particularly significant, with some reports noting the hike is at least R6 per litre [2].
“Petrol price will increase by R3.27 per litre”
The simultaneous increase in base fuel prices and reduction in levies suggests a government attempt to stabilize consumer costs while reflecting global oil price volatility. However, the significant jump in diesel costs—which powers the majority of the country's freight and industrial transport—may lead to secondary inflation as businesses pass higher logistics costs onto consumers.
